Apparatus for molding articles



May 12. 1925. 1,537,697

T. c. ROBERTS APPARATUS FOR MOLDING ARTICLES Filed July 9. 1919 'T Sheets-Sheet 1 mmm l 'v me @M 'A tto rnzy 7e www T. C. RQBERTS APPARATUS FOR HOLDING ARTICLES May 12, 1925.

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May l2, 1925.

T. C. ROBERTS APPARATUS FOR MGLDING ARTICLES Filed July 9! 1919 7 SheatS-Sheet 3 May l2, 1925. 1,537,697

T. c. 4Roel-:RTS

APPARATUS FOR MOLDING ARTICLES Filed July 9. 1919 7 Sheefs-Sheet4 4 Inventor By" Attorney May 12, 1925. 1,537,697

T. c. ROBERTS APPARATUS FOR HOLDING ARTICLES Filed July 9, 1919 7 Sheetl-Shet 6 ,lr s- 0 2 Inventor By J Attnmcy May l2, 1925.

T. C. ROBERTS APPARATUS FOR HOLDING ARTICLES Filed July 9.V 1919 7 Shadi-Shut' 7 5 of Connecticut, have ject 5 others in the Puentes M., 12, 192s.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

Trrnonoa c. noBEaTs, or nRInoEronT, omrncfrrcur, assIeNoa; BY mm1 as. are 'ro COLUMBIA rnonoonarn COMPANY, nw., a coaroau'ron or m YORK.

Application lrled July 9, To all whom it may concern: 'l

Be it known that I, Trmononn C. Romrs,

a citizen of the United States, and residing at Bridgeport, county of Fairfield, and State invented certain new and useful Im rovements in Ap aratus for Moldin Articlias, of which the ollowing is a full, c ear, and exact description.

The invention which constitutes the submatter of this ap lication resides in an automatic machine w ich is primarily designed for the manufacture, from plastic or ot er suitable material, of certain finished articles, and `which, although capable of molding many kindred devices, is herein described mainly as an alparatus for the specific purpose of manu acturing sound records.

The machine in question dilfers from prior art by the fact that the various-stepsm the process of manufacture of the articles in question are performed successively, there being what ma be called a plurality of stations at which t e treatment of the material in its different stages is performed simultaneously. In other words, there is provided a conveyor, containing a plurality of presses, which is moved or rotated either continuously or intermittentl with a result that a certain treatment 1s performed at each station, or during each stage of its movement. In this way, as all of the pressing units are provided or supplied by the material from which the record is manufactured, a different sta of the work is being simultaneousl carried on at each station, and then, by t e movement or rotation of the conveyer the material is advanced to the next station for the next succeeding operation or treatment, or expelled or removed from the machine as the case ma be;

The machine in question moreover, differs from others in the prior art by the fact that there is a correlation between the treatment performed at one station and that rformed at the next succeeding station. at is, in the making of such articles as sound records and the like, if the lirst operation involves the pressing of the plastic material, and a succeeding operation involves the coolin and setting of the material, the latter wi be one requiring a considerable length of time as compared with the former. ut to correlate the two the cooling and setting of .APPARATUS FUR HOLDING ARTICLES.

1919. semi no. $09,702.

the material is cast has taken p A machine so organized as to divide up the work in stages is ca able of turning out a great many records 1n a short s ace of time, but as will be alp-parent from t e foregoing it is essential t at the arrangement be such that there is maintained between the treatment performed at the successive stations a certain definite relation. Furthermore a machine so organized enables the employment in the manufacture of records of a very large roportion of unskilled labor as the work ofp preparing and feedin the material to and the removal of the finished product from the machine is likewise divided up, thereby dislpensing entirely with the time that the ski ed pressman, in the use of the present type of machine necessarily consumes in turmn on and oii'the valves for heating and coo ing, and in eliminating the loss of time which occurs as he waits for the successive steps in the operation of the record pressing machine to take place.

The objects of my invention may be accomplished by the use of the apparatus illustrated in the accompanying drawings of thejnvention.

Fig. 1 illustrates a top plan view of the record pressing machine, some of the arts having been omitted for the sake of c earness.

lig. 2 is a sectionLon unbroken line 2--2 of 1 1.

Figgs. 3 and 3 are dia ammatic views illustrating the sequence o operations of a plurality of the press'in units.

Fig. 4 is a section ta en on line 44 of Fig. 3* dia ammatically illustrating the manner in w ich the valves for controlling the admission and exhaust of the heating and cooling mediu'ms are operated.

Fig. 5 is a section through the valve for controlling the coolin medium taken at ri ht angles to the section thereof in Fig. 4.

`ig. 6 1s a similar section of the valve for controlling the heatin medium.

Fig. 7 is section similar to Fig. showing the various parts in a different position.

Fi 8 is a vertical transverse section of a modi ed form of the invention.

Fig. 9 is a top plan view of a portion of this modified for Fig. 10 is a front view of this modified lprolonged until the proper ace.

A the trac form looking in the direction of the. arrow X of Fig. 9.

Fig. 11 is a detailed view.

Fig. 12 is a modified form of the construc-d tion illustrated in Figs. 1 to 7 inclusive, showing mechanism for imparting an intermittent or step-by-Step rotation to the conig. 13 is a detailed view of the modification illustrated in Fig. 12,

Fi 14 is a diagrammatic view of another mod' ed form.

Referring to the construction illustrated in Figs. 1 to 7 inclusive" the record-pressing machine in general comprises a plurality of presses, numbered from 1 to 12 inclusive, suitably xed to a conveyer 13; a track, in the form of supporting wheels 14 pivoted to suitable brackets 15, upon which the conveyer, in the embodiment illustrated, is rotatabl supported; a base 16 upon which is mounted; a plurality of camrails 17, 18 and 19 fixed to the base 16 provided with inclinations or cam surfaces; mechanism designed to actuate the conveyer; and means co-operating with the cam-rails for operating the pressi units and for the control of the flow of iui necessarily utilized in the operation of the resses to perform the other functions inci ent to the operation of the machine.

Fixed to the conveyer 13, which is referably in the form of a turn-table revo ving about a vertical axis, is a driven gear 20 meshing with a driving) gear 21 secured to the shaft 22 the latter eing actuated from any convenient source of power and mounted for rotationin bearings 23 and 24 suitably Supp base 16. Suitably secured to and projecting downwardly from the conveyer is a hollow shaft 25 provided with a bearing 26 mounted u n the base or foundation 16 and about w ich the turntable is adapted to rotate as an axis. A o secured to the turn-table 13 and rojecting i2ipwardly therefrom is a distributing nozzle for the main water supply pipe 28. Secured to the Water supply pipe 28 by means of the external lian e 29 and adjustable nut 30, and inte d tween the pipe 28 and the nozzle 2 is a sealing plug 31 whose exterior tapered surface engages with the correspondingly shaped interior surface of the nozzle 27. The lower interior surface of the nozzle is oset and screw-threaded to receive an externally threaded annular nut 32, the inner periphery of which is tapered to engage wit the tapered lower end of the plug 31, the construction bei g such that when the nut 32 is screwed home there is effected a fluid-tight swivelled connection between the nozzle 27 and the main water supply pipe 28, thus enabling the conveyer to rotate about its shaft 25. For the purpose of properly supporting the water supply pipe in its adusted position, I empio a ilan e 33 suitab y secured, as by bolts 3l, to the ttom of the bearing 26. Extending laterally from the nozzle 27 is a plurality of distributing pipes 35, which not onl suppl the water or actuating the presses ydrau ically but also serve to supply water for the purpose of cooling the same. The connections between these pipes and the presses and the means for controlling the ow of water therethrough will be described in detail hereinafter.

In the pressing necessary at certain to admit a medium of sound records it is stages of the operation to heat the presses to a certain temperature. For this urpose there is provided a main steam a ission pipe 36 swivelled to a distributin nozzle 37 which, in the embodiments iliustrated, is supported bg and fixed to rotate with the conveyer. uitable distributing pipes 38 are employed to convey the heating medium from the distributing nozzle to the pressing units. Connected to each press is a steam exhaust pipe 39 leading to a header 40, the latter being connected through pipe 4l and swivelled sleeves 42 and 43 with a main steam exhaust pipe 44, it being understood that sleeve 42 partakes of the revolutions of the conveyer 13 and that sleeve 43 is relatively stationary.

From the foregoing it will be readily ap parent that the distributing nozzles 27 and 37 and the distributing pipes 35 and 38 move as a unit with the `conveyer. The valves which control the admission of the water and steam to the presses are preferably located adjacent to the latter and likewise move as a unit with the pressing units and the tra feling conveyer. The construction of the valves and the mechanism for controlling the same, all of which are by way of examples, I w'illlnow proceed to describe.

Figs. 3 and 3 illustrate the sequence or stages of operations briefly as follows Press 11, assuming that the record-pressing machine has been in operation, is under hydraulic pressure, with the record still contained therein, and with the cooling water still turned on an the steam turned oli; press 12 is open for the pu of removing the finished product with t e cooling water, the water under hydraulic pressure and the steam all shut oi; ress 1 is o n with the coolin water an water Aun er pressure turiie off and with thesteam tui-ned on to enable the press to be heated preparatory to receiving the next charge of material; and press 2 is closed by hydraulic pressure with the steam turned oif and the cooling water turned on.

It will be quite apparent from above that the construction, control and operation of, as well as the connections to, the individual pressing units are all the same. Therefore l (Nl llfi the following description along these lines of one of these units will suiice to convey an understanding of the construction, con-` trol and operation of all the units. Adjacent to each press, there are rovided an hydraulic valve H, a steam va ve S and a cooling watervalve W, the constructions of which are illustrated in a more or less dia-v grammatic way.

Referring first to the construction of the hydraulic valve H (see Figs. 3 to 7 inclusive) the reference numeral 45 indicates the casing, 46 the piston valve, 47 the valve stem passin through a suitable stntlin box and provi ed with an anti-friction ro ler 48 on its lower end, and 49 a means, such as a spring, tending to actuate the piston valve in the direction of its normal position to shut oil.' the pressure to the presses. As will be seen from Fig. a when the valve 47 is in its uppermost position communication is established between the pipes 50 and.51 to y chamber 52 of the -parts being sosimilar to to enter the hydraulic pressing unit, but when the valve is in its lowermost position communication is established between the pipes 50 and 54 to enable the waterunder pressure to be exhausted open the press. Located below the hydraulic valve H is a rotatable shaft 55 provided with a heart-shape or two-face cam 56 secured thereto which engages with the anti-friction roller 48 and is actuated to control the flow of water by means of an arm 57 fixed to said shaft and having'an anti-friction roller 58 at its outer end, said arm 57 adapted to be moved to release the hydraulic pressure by its anti-friction roller 58 riding down the cam surface 59 on the cam-rail 19. Hydraulic pressure isy admitenable the water ted tothe press by the anti-friction ro'llex` V58 riding up the cam surface 60, it being understood that the construction is such that the pressure will be relieved at that stage of the operation when it is desired to remove the finished product, and that the pressure will be admitted after the new batch of material has been supplied to the pressing unit.

The valve W and its controlling mechanism for admitting cooling water comprises a casing 61, piston valve 62, valve stem 63, anti-friction roller 64, s ring 65, cam 66, shaft 67, arm 68 and antl-friction roller 69, the construction and arrangement of the the construction and arrangement of the parts of the Vvalve H that no further description is necessary, except to say that when the roller 69 rides down the cam surface 70 on cam-rail 18 u communication between the pifrpe 71 and pipe 72 is broken but that when it rides up the cam surface 73 on cam-rail 18 communication is re-established. It may also be remarked that the cooling Water from trough 53. It

from the chamber 52 to" pipes 72 is admitted y that it is conveyed to the other head by the flexible connection 74 and that it is discharged from the latter by pi e 75 into the will of course understood that any conventional type ofpress heads provided with cooling cavities ma be employed. In fact, I have illustrated7 only so much of the pressin units as will enable a complete understan ing of my invention, the various details thereof having 4been omitted. Pipes 50 and 71 are branches of the distributing pipes 35.

The valve S and its mechanism employed for enabling, the admission and discharge of steam or other heating fluid comprises a casing 76, iston lvalve 77, stem 78,'antifriction rol er 79, springSO, cam 81, shaft 82, arm 83, and anti-friction roller 84 the construction and arrangement of the parts being likewise similar to the construction and arrangement of the parts of valve H, and therefore no detailed description thereof is necessary, except t say that when the roller 84' rides up the inclined surface 85 of the cam-rail 17 the valve S is actuated to establish communication between the distributing pipe 38 and the pipe 86 leading to the pressing unit but that when the roller 84 rides down the incline surface 87 the va'lve is actuated to shut oil' the How of fluid through the distributing pipe 38 and to establish communication between the pipe 86 and the ipe 88 to enable the steam to be exhausted) from the press. The levers 57, 68, and 83, it will be understood, can be individually actuated, as for instance, manually, to completely operate the pressing units, thus making ossible the operation of a certain part of t em, while the support is stationary. All of the pressesrepresent complete pressing u'nits, individually workable at all times and at any position of rotation of the su port. During the automatic operation of) the valves, one side of each cam 56 engages the roller of its valve-arm. But, in the manual operation, the levers 57, 68 and 83 are swung upwardly away from the cam-track, bringing into operation the other sides of the cams 56. This operation is possible. because the cams 56 are. as above stated. heart-shaped or two-faced. y

During the operation -of the machine it sometimes becomes necessary to stop the rotation of the conveyer. To accomplish this object the following mechanism `is preferably employed. Telescoping with the shaft 22 (see Fi 2) is a rod 89 which rotates therewith ut is movable longitudinally with respect thereto. Fixed to the outer end of the rod 89 is a clutch member 90 (see Fig. 1) which is adapted to engage pulley 91, the latter being` rotatably mounted upon a bearing 92 concentrlc to the shaft 22 and rod 89. To the inner end of the rod to one head of the press lllt) 89 is secured a shifting or sliding collar 93 adapted to be actuated to cause the clutch member 90 to engage or disengage the pulley 91. The mechanism for actuating this shift collar 93 to start and stop the machine comprises a spring pressed lever 94 pivoted to the bracket 95, the forked end of which engages with the groove in the collar 93 and the other end of which isconnected to one end of a rod 96. The other end of this rod 96 is connected to an arm 97 rigidly mounted upon a rock shaft 98. To this rock-shaft adjacent to the loading operator is rigidl secured an actuating arm 99 provided with a lever 100 and a pawl 101, the lutter adapted to operate over a rack 102 as will be understood. Adjacent the unloading operator there is provided a second actuating arm 103 (see Fig. 1) likewise rigidly mounted upon the rock shaft 98. This arm 103 is also provided with an operating lever 104. The levers 10() and 104 are rigidly connected to the rod 105 the respective ends of which are pivotally mounted in the actuating arms 99 and 103 from which it will be seen that either the loading or the unloading operator may shi the collar 93 at will to start and stop the machine. In order that the momentum of the machine may be overcome instantly in case of an emergency the following mechanism is employed. Pivotally mounted at 106 (see Fin'. 1) to any .convenient support is a be l-crank lever one arm 107 of which is normally against the protruding end of the rod 89.

The other arm 109 is pivotally connected to one end of a link 110 the other end of the latter being pivotally connected to one arm 111 of a second bell-crank, the other arm 112 of` which constitutes a brake-shoe adapted when the clutch 90 is thrown out of engagement with the driving pulley 91, to engage the outer periphery o the traveling conveyer. From the foregoing it will be readily apparent that a movement in one direction of either arm 99 or 103 will serve to start the operation of the machine and that a movement of either in the other direction will serve not only to disconnect the recordpressing machine from its source of power but wil also instantly apply the brake shoe 112 to stop the movement of the conveyer due to its momentum.

In Figs. 1 and 2 there is illustrated not only 113 and 114 of the operator and bot diagrammatically the relative position loading and unloading but also a heating table 115, to lom matrices 116 and 117, top an bottoni/pressing plates 118 and 119, knocking block 120 and finished record 121. It may be stated in this connection that I make no claims herein to the various parts referred to in this paragraph as they are merely illustrated to show how my mvenheld by spring 108V Vsaid gears being obviously tion may be carried out in practice. It is therefore to be expressly un v any form of steam tab e, pressing plates and matrices may be emplpyed in connection' with my invention.

In Figs. 8, 9, 10 and 11 is illustrated a modified form of the invention in which the pressin units are opened and closed mechanica y as distinguished from being controlled hydraulically. To that end there is provided a driving gear 122 mounted upon a drivin shaft 123 the latter bein provided with suitable journals 124 an 125.

Gear 122 meshes with a driven gear 126 fixed to a hollow shaft 127. Encircling this shaft but fixed to a suitable support resting upon the base of the machine is a sun gear 128 meshing with a plurality of planet gears 129 fixed upon shafts 130 which are carried in journals 131 and 132 provided on the underside of the traveling conveyer and held against longitudinal movement by the thrust collar 133 and the shoulder of the gears 129. Each shaft 130 is provided with two bevel gears 134 and `135 fac'in each other and carried by a shaft 136 te escopft ing with shaft 130. Shaft 136 is not only arran d to rotate with shaft 130 but is capab e of relative longitudinal movement with respect thereto so that one or the other of ears 134 and 135 are adapted to mesh Wit a gear 137 although normally they are both in neutral or unmeshed position. To accomplish this relative movement of the gears 134 and 135 with respect to shaft 130 and gear 137 the following construction is preferably employed. The central rforations of gears 134 and 135 are su ciently large to enable them to slide over shaft 130 an are supported from the inner shaft 136 by means of pins 138 and 139 projecting through elongated slots 140 and 141, the limited in their movements by their engagement with the gear 137. In alignment with the hollow shaft 130 is a bracket 142 which carries a stub-shaft 143 provided with studs 144 projecting outwardly into slots 145 in the bracket to revent the rotation of said stubshaft so at the anti-friction roller 146 carried by the protruding end of the stubshaft always rotates about a vertical axis. Located between a shaft 130 and the shoulder of gear 134 is a. spring 148 which maintains the outer end of the inner shaft 136 in contact with the inner end of shaft 143, thereby maintaining the anti-friction roller 146 in contact with a stationary cam rail 149. As before stated. the

ears 134 and 135 are normally maintained in neutral or unmeshed 1position with respect to gear 137, but w en the traveling conveyer is rotated the anti-friction roller ultimately arrives at the depression 150 in the cam rail 149 (see Fig. 9), thus enabling collar 147 xed to the the roller 146, shaft 144, shaft 136 and gears 134 and 135 to move outwardly thereb causing the inner gear 134 to mesh wit gear '13 ary gear arran ement that the gears 134 and 135 are a ways rotating during the movement of the conveyer. The shaft 151 is rovided With a feed screw 152 (see Fig. 1 in engagement with threads on the lower head of the nress from which it will he understood that a rotation of the gear 137 with its supporting shaft 151 in the fashion just described imparts a downward movement of the lower head of the press thereby opening the same to enable the finished product to be removed therefrom. The continued rotation of the conveyor cams the anti-friction roller 146 out of the depression 150 thereby bringing the gears 134 and 135 again into neutral position. The further rotationthereafter brings the anti-fricfore .having tion roller 146 into contact with the inwardly projecting cam surface 153 provided on e stationary cam rail 149 to cause gear 135 to mesh with gear 137, for the purpose of rotating the latter to close the press, it being understood that the amount of movement imparted to the gears will depend upon the length of the high point of the cam In order to take .care of any undue movement of the lower head of the press and also in order that the parts need Anot be constructed with any great degree of accuracy the upper head of the press is relatively movable under the tension of the springs 154.

Attention is called, in this connection, to the modified construction of the water and steam inlet and outlet connections clearly illustrated in Figs. 8 and 9. In this instance there is only one distributing the latter leading to a header 155 from which cooling water is conducted to the valves W by the branch pipes 71 previously described. There is also only one distributing pipe. 38 for the heating fluid, the latter eadlng to a header 156 from which said fluid is conducted to the valves of the branch pipes 157.

Those arts of Figs. 8 specifically referred to .in every respect to th toll inclusive, not hereln, are `similar e corresponding parts illustrated and described il connection with 1 inclusive.

revlously Figs. 1 to 7 Those parts theredated any omitted to avoid prolixity of description.

In Fi 12 and 13 is illustrateda further modie form of the construction illustrated in Figs. 1 to 7 inclusive. In many instances it has been found desirable, for many reasons, to'impart, in a device of this character, an intermittent `or ste by-step movement to the conveyor. Of t e many to rotate the shaft 151 of the latter, itbeing understood from the sun and planet pipe,

S by meansy been clearly eluciurther reference thereto is constructions that may be employed for the purpose I have selected for ilustration the one shown in said Fi s. 12 and 13. However it is desirable t at the intermittent means employed should be such as to cause each actuation of the intermittent means to move the traveling conveyer from one station to its next succeeding station. This mechanism in detail comprises a driven gear 2O and a driving gear 21 preferably of the same pitch diameter, the latter bein mounted upon the driving shaft 22, the outer end of which is provided with a Star wheel 158 provided with notches 159, the

number of which preferably corresponds to one-twelfth of a revolution as will be undcrstood by a casual inspection of Fig. 13. Due to its weight the conveyer acquires considerable momentum once it has been started. To overcome this momentum after the star Wheel has been moved through an angular distance of thirty degrees so that the next succeeding notch will be in a position to receive the stud 166 I employ the pivotally mounted sprin -pressed stop lever 167 provided on one eng with a projection 168, preferably slightly tapered or wedgeshaped, adapted to engage one of the notches in the periphery of the star wheel. The other end of this lever is provided with a cam engaging surface `such' as an anti-friction roller 169 which rides over the cam 170, upon each rotation of the disc member 165 the construction being such that just as the stop-lever 167 in a clockwise direction about its pivotal point, thereby withdrawing the wedge-shaped projection 168 from the notch with which it is engaged. The roller 169 lrides oi of the cam just as the stud 166 is caving the notch is engaged, that is, after the star wheel has been moved au angular distance of thirty degrees, thereby enabling the stop lever, under the force ofthe 'spring 171, to move in a counterclockwise direction so that the wedge-shaped projection thereon engages the next suc ceedin notch.

In ig. 14 I have illustrated another "mechanical means of a modified form for opening and closing the presses consisting of a toggle lever construction, the link 172 for successively opening,

of which is connected to an arm 173 fixed toa shaft 174. To the latter is fixed an actuating arm 175 qiite similar to the arm 57 illustrated and escribed in connection with Figs. 1 to 7 The' arm 175 is rovided with a cam roller 176 which trave over a race-way 177 provided with a receding slot 178, which provides a positive means tor opening the press and is also provided with an ascending surface 179, over which the roller 176 must pass to close the press. This toggle construction is also dia ammatically shown but is embodied herein for the pur ose of further elucidating the princi les o my invention.

rom the foregoin it will be seen that I have devised a recor -pressing machine that is capable of turning out a great number of records as compared to machines now in vogue. In the drawings I have illustrated the use of twelve pressing units, but it will be readily apparent that any desired number may be employed. It is however to expressly understood that I do not limit myself to the exact details of construction or to the specific embodiments of the invention herein illustrated and described, as many changes may be made in points of etail and other embodiments resorted to without deviating from the true spirit an scope of my invention as defined by the apended claims. While this invention has n particularly described as adapted for making1 sound records, it should be understood t at it is also suitable for molding articles of any kind. And it should be further understood that the press may be used for ressing other'than thermoplastic materia What I claim is:

1. A pressing machine including, in co bination, a movable support, a plurality of presses carried by the support, and means or successively eiecting various treatments of the material in the presses, said means being adapted to be actuated by the movement of the support, and also adapted to be individually actuated independently of such movement and independently of each other.

2. A pressing machine including, in combination, a movable supporta plurality of presses carried by the support, and means heating, closing, and cooling the presses, said means being adapted to be actuated by the movement of the support, and. also adapted to have individual and independent actuation free of such movement.

3. A pressing bination, a movable support, a plurality o presses carried by the support, and means machine including, in comfor successively effecting various treatments ing adapted to be actuated by vof the support, and also of the material in the presses, said means bethe movement adapted to have ni- (1 able support,

f that one of dividual and independent actuation, free of such movement.

4. An apparatus for pressing articles, in-

cluding 'a movable support, a plurality of pressing units mounted thereon, means for actuating the pressing units, and means operable independently of said means for periodically cooling the pressing units.

5. An apparatus for pressing articles, including a movable sup ort, a plurality of pressing units mounts thereon, and each with an independently operable heating supply, and means for periodically admitting the su ply to the presses successively.

6. e inventionas in claim 4, further characterized by each of said pressing units havinghan independent heating supply.

7. e invention as in claim 6, including means for periodicall admitting the heating supply successive y to the presses.

8. A pressing machine comprising a movable support, a plurality of complete and independently operable pressing units carried by the support, and means automatically controlled by the movement of said support or successively effecting the opening, heating, closing and cooling of the pressing units.

9. A pressing machine, comprising a mova plurality of complete and independently operable pressing units, and mechanism automatically controlled by the movement of the support for simultaneously and successively effecting the opening, heating, closing and cooling of the pressing units said mechanismcomprising means for correlating the successive operations of the machine.

10. A machine for making articles from suitable material, comprising a movable support, in combination with a plurality of automatic means controlled by the movement of the support for effecting successive treatments required of such material in the manufacture of articles therefrom, each of said means being independently operable but correlated wit every other means.

11.. A machine for making articles from plastic on other suitable material, comprising a movable support, a lurality of units carried by said support or receiving the material, automatic means for operating the units to resS the material contained therein, and mec anism operable inde endently of said automatic means adapt to be actuated by the movement of the support for effecting a heating and a cooling treatment of the material, said mechanism comprising means for correlating these treatments so them will be prolonged as compared to the other.

12. A multiple pressing machine comprising, in combination, a support, and a plurality of resses carried by the support, to-

gether with automatic means -for successively opening, heating, closing, and cooling said presses, said heating and cooling means including a platen in each press and means to automatically pass both heating and cooling media successively therethrough while the press is in closed position.

13. The invention as in claim 12, further characterized by all of said means being actuated by the movement of the support.

14. A multiple pressing machine comprising, in combination, a revolving support and a plurality of presses carried by the support, together with individually and independent y operable means for successively opening, heating, closing, and cooling said presses, said means being actuated by the movement of the suppcrt'and said heating and cooling being effected with the aid of fluid media indirectly applied.

15. A machine for making articles from suitable material, comprising a movable support and a plurality of individual presses carried by the support, together with independently operable and individual mechanisms actuated by the movement of the support for e'ecting the heating and cooling treatments of the material, in each of said presses, each of said mechanisms being arranged so that one of these treatments will be prolonged as compared to the other treatment.

16. An apparatus for pressing articles comprising a movable support, a plurality of pressing units carried by the support for pressing plastic material. a plurality ot means associated with each of the pressing units for effecting various treatments of the material, and a plurality of means associated with the movable support and operable iudependently to cause the actuation of the respective plurality of means associated with the several pressing units, as the support is moved.`

17. An apparatus for pressing articles comprising a movable support, a plurality of pressing units carried by the support for pressing plastic material, means associated with each of the pressing units for opening` heating, closing, and cooling said units, and a lurality of means associated with the movablje support and operable independently to cause the actuation of the respective means associated with the several pressing units, as the support is moved.

18. An apparatus for pressing articles, comprising a movable support, a plurality of pressing units carried by the support for pressing plastic material, means associated with each of the pressing units for opening and closing them, other means associated with each of the pressing units For effecting temperature changes therein, and still other means associated with the movablesupport and operable independently to cause thc acspective pressing units for controlling the firstand second-named means operable independently of each other, and means associated with the support and adapted t0 cause the actuation of the relatively movable means in predetermined sequence and timed relation, as the support is revolved.

20. An apparatus for pressing articles, comprising a revolvable support, a. plurality of identical independent pressing units mounted radially in spaced relation upon the support, means associated with each of the pressing units for opening and closingand other means for heating and coolingthe pressing units, relatively movable means independently associated with each of the respective pressing units for controlling the firstand second-named means independent of each other, and annular cam tracks associated with the support and adapted to cause the actuation of the relatively movable means in predetermined sequence and timed relation as the support is revolved.

Q1. Au apparatus for pressing articles, comprising a revolvable support. a plurality of identical and independently operable pressing units mounted radially in spaced relation upon the support, each of said pressing units comprising relatively movable platens. Huid-pressure meansfor moving said platens into and out of pressing relation, means for admitting a heating medium to said pressing units. means for admitting a cooling medium to said pressing units. and means occupying fixed positions relatively to said support and adapted to cause the independent actuation of said fluid-pressure means, said heating medium admission means, and said cooling medium admission means, as the. support is revolved.

22. An apparatus for pressing articles, comprising a revolvable support, a plurality of identical independently-mounted and independently operable pressing units carried by the support, each of the pressing units comprising a base secured to the support, relatively-movable platens supported by the base, pressure means for moving the platens into and out of pressing relation` and means for effecting temperature changes in the platens. and means occupying fixed positions relatively to said support and adapted of identical and independently operable pressing units mounted radially in spaced relation upon the support and adjacent the outer periphery thereof, each of said pressing units comprising relatively movable platens, pressure means for moving the platens into and out of pressing relation, means including passageways for admitting heating and cooling media successively to the platens, a heating-medium supply manii, fold, .a cooling-medium supply manifold,

connection means between said manifolds and said passageways, and individual means for independently operating said pressure means and said heating and coolingmedia admission means of the several pressing units.

24. An apparatus for pressing articles, comprising an annular support, a plurality of identical and independently operable pressing units mounted radially in spaced relation upon the support and adjacent the outer periphery thereof, each of said pressing units comprising relatively movable platens, pressure means for` moving the platens into and out of pressing relation, means including passageways for admittin a cooling medium to said platens, a coo ing medium supply manifold, connection means between said cooling medium supply manifold and said passageways and means associated with each of the pressing units adapted to operate said pressure meansfand said cooling medium admission means independently of each other.

25. An apparatus for pressing articles, comprising an annular support, a plurality of identical and independently operable pressing units mounted radially in spaced relation upon the support and ad'acent the outer periphery thereof, each of w ich units comprises relatively-movable platens, fluid pressure means including passageways for movin said platens into and outof press-` ing re ation, means including passageways for admitting a heatin medium to said latens, other means inc uding passageways or admitting a cooling medium to said platens, a fluid-pressure supply manifold, connection means between said manifold and the fluid-pressure passageways of the respective pressing units, a heating-medium supply manifold, connection means between said heating-medium supply manifold and the heating-medium passagewa s of the respective pressing units, a coo ing-medium sup ly, manifold,v connection means between sai cooling-medium supply manifold and the cooling-medium passageways of the re- Lesmo? spective pressing units, nand means individual to each pressing unit for independently operating said pressure means and said heating and cooling medium admission means of the several pressin units.

26. The invention as in c aim 21, further characterized by means for revolving said support, and means occupying relatively fixe positions and adapted to automatically and independently actuate said individual means of the respective pressing units as the su port is revolved.

27. n apparatus for pressing articles, com rising a central distributing section includlng a stationary Huid-pressure supply conduit, a stationary heatin duid supply conduit and a stationary coo ing-fluid supply conduit, a revolvable support annular y surrounding said central distributing section, a =plurality of distributin rotatable with said support an in rotative communication with t e respective stationary supply conduits, a plurality of identical and independently operable pressing units mounted radial] in s ced relation upon said support, eac of w ich units comprises relatively movable platens, Huid-pressure' manifolds means including passagewa s for moving,a

said platens into and .out o pressing relation, connection means between said iuidpressure passageways and the iuidressure distributing manifold, means including passageways for admitting heating-fluid to said platens, connection means between said heat ing-Huid passagewa s and the heating-Huid distributing manifo d, means including passageways for admitting heating duid to said platens, and connection means between said coolin -iuid passagewa s and the cooling- Huid istributin mani old, and means occupying relative y fixed positions and adapt-n ed to automatically and independently actuate said Huid-pressure means, .said heat' duid admission means and said cooling-fluid admission means, as the support is revolvedif-` fno at each o said stations for operating said connecting and disconnecting means.

29. An apparatus for pressing articles, comprising a revolvable support, a plurality of inde endently operable pressing units mounte radially in spaced' relation upon theL support, a charging station, a discharging station spared erefromfdriving means 30. An apparatus for pressing articles,'

comprising a revolvable support, a plurality of independently operable pressing units mounted radially in spaced relation upon the support, a charging station, a discharg ing station spaced therefrom` driving means adapted to rotate the support to bring said pressing units successively into relation with the charging and discharging stations, a clutch for operatively connectingT and dis connecting said driving means, and a brake for said support adapted to he made respectiyely inoperative and operative as said clutch is connected and disconnected.

31. An apparatus for pressing articles, including a movable support, a plurality of pressing units mounted thereon, means for actuating the pressing units, and separate means operable independently of the said lneans for periodically cooling the pressing units.

32. An apparatus for pressing articles, including a movable support, a plurality of pressing units mounted thereon, means for actuating the pressing units, and separate means operable independently' of the said means and independently of each other for periodically and intermittently heating and cooling the pressing units.

33. An apparatus for pressing articles, including a movable support, a plurality of pressing units mounted thereon and provided with platens, means for cooling the platens, including cooling fluid-admission means, and means controlling the admission adapted to he actuated in predetermined timed relation with the opening and closing action of the pressing units, but independently of such action. i

34. An apparatus for pressing articles, including a movable support, a plurality of pressingr units mounted thereon and provided with platcns, means for cooling the platens. including cooling fluid-admission means. aud means controlling tbe admission adapted lo have opening and closing move ment distinct from the opening and closing movement of the pressing units.

S5. An apparatus for pressing articles, including a movable support. a plurality of pressing units mounted thereon and provided with platens. means for cooling the platens, including cooling uidadmission and dischargey means, and means controlling the admission aud discharge adapted to have opening and closing movement distinct from the opening and closing movement of the pressing units.

36. A multiple press for pressing thermoplastic material includingr a plurality of pressing units, a traveling support for said pressing unitsl adapted to move the units in succession to a charging station, and means operated as an incident to the, movement of the units for cooling and opening the presses as the charging,r station is approached, and heating and closing the presses at the charg ing station.

37. A pressing machine comprising, in combination, a conveyor, a plurality ot presses carried by the conveyor, and means actuated by the movement of the conveyor for successively opening. heating, closing, and cooling said presses. the said means being independently operable.

38. A pressing machine comprising, in combination, a revolvable conveyor, a plurality of presses carried by the conveyor; and independently operable means actuated by the movement of the conveyor for simultaneously eflecting successive treatments of the material in said presses.

39. A pressing machine comprising a conveyor, and a plurality of units carried by said conveyor for pressing material, in combination with independently operable means controlled during the movement of the conveyor for correlating successive operations of the different units.

40. A pressing machine comprising a conveyor and a plurality of pressing units provided with material and carried by said conveyor, in combination with independently operable means automatically controlled during the movement of the conveyor for simultaneously effecting successive operations of the material.

41. A pressing machine comprising a conveyor and a plurality of pressing units carried by said conveyor and containing material -to be pressed, in combination with in dependently operable means controlled by the movement of the conveyor for simultaneously effecting a plurality of treatments of the material in said units.

42. A pressing machine for thermoplastic material, comprising a conveyor in'combination with independently operable automatic Ameans for effecting successive treatmentsof the material as required in the manufacture thereof.

43. A machine for making articles of thermoplastic material, comprising a cou veyor. in combination with independently operable automatic means for continuously and simultaneously effecting successive treatments required of said material in the manufacture of articles therefrom.

44. A machine for making articles from suitable material including a conveyor in combination with independently -operable automatic mechanisms for simultaneously effecting successive treatments required of said material in the manufacture of articles therefrom, said mechanisms including means for correlating the various treatments.

45. In a multiple pressing machine, valve mechanism adapted to be actuated by the movement of the machine for controlling the admission and discharge of hydraulic power used to actuate each pressing unit in proper synchronism witlrits various operations, and stationary means for actuating the valve mechanism.

46. In an apparatus for making pressed articles, the combination o'a revolving conveyor, pressing units mounted on the conveyor, mechanism for controlling the admission and discharge of the temperaturechanging media to said pressing units, a cam-track having a plurality of projections, and a cam-rod, there being relative movement between said cam-track and cam-rod, said cam-rod being adapted `to actuate said mechanism by the aid of said cam-track pro'ections.

4 In an apparatus for making pressed articles, the combination of a revolving conveyor, pressing units mounted on the conveyor, mechanism for controlling the admission and discharge of temperaturechanging media to said pressing units, in proper synchronism with its various operations, a cam-track having a plurality of projections, and a cam-rod2 there beine relative movement between said cam-tracl and cam-rod, said cam-rod being adapted to actuate said mechanism by the aid of said rahty of projections, a cam-rod having a roller attached to its track-engaging end, there being relative movement between said cam-track and cam-rod, said cam-rod being adapted to actuate said mechanism by the aid of said cam-track projections.

50. In an apparatus for making pressed articles, the combination of a revolving conveyor, pressing units mounted on the conveyor, mechanism for controlling the admission arid discharge of temperaturechanging media to said pressing units, a cam-track having a plurality of projections, and a cam-rod, there being relative movement, actuated by the movement of the conveyor, between said cani-track and cam-rod, said cam-rod being adapted to actuate said mechanism by the aid of said cam-track projections.

51. The invention as in claim 49, further characterized by controlling said admission and discharge 0f the power medium in proper synchronism with the various operations of the pressing units.

In testimony whereof, I aliix my signatu're.

THEODORE C. ROBERTS.

combination with independently `operable automatic mechanisms for simultaneously efecting successive treatments required of said material in the manufacture of articles therefrom, said mechanisms including means for correlating the various treatments.

45. In a multiple pressing machine, valve mechanism adapted to be actuated by the movement of the machine for controlling the admission and discharge of hydraulic power used to actuate each pressing unit in proper synchronism with its various operations, and stationary means for actuating the valve mechanism.

46. In an apparatus for making pressed articles, the combination of'a revolving conveyor, pressing units mounted on the conveyor, mechanism for controlling the admission and discharge of the temperaturechanging media to said pressing units, a cam-track having a plurality of projections, and a cam-rod, there being relative movement between said cam-track and cam-rod, said cam-rod being adapted 4to actuate said mechanism by the aid of said cam-track proections.

4 In an apparatus for making pressed articles, the combination of a revolving conveyor, pressing units mounted on the conveyor, mechanism for controlling the admission and discharge of temperaturechanging media to said pressing units, in proper synchronism with its various operations, a cam-track having a plurality of projections, and a cam-rod, there being relative movement between said cam-track and cam-rod, said cam-rod being adapted to accharacterized by the cam-rod having a roller attached to its track-engaging end.

49. 1n a multiple pressing machine, the combination of a revolving conveyor, identical ressing units mounted on the conveyor, mec anism for controlling the admission and discharge of a power medium to said pressing umts, a cam-rail having a plurality of projections, a cam-rod having a roller attached to its track-engaging end, there being relative movement between said cani-track and cam-rod, said cam-rod being adapted to actuate saidmechanism by the aid of said cam-track projections.

50. In an apparatus for making pressed articles, the combination ot' a revolving conveyor, pressing units mounted on the conveyor, mechanism for controlling the admission and discharge of temperaturechanging media to said pressing units, a cam-track having a plurality of projections, and a cam-rod, there being relative movement, actuated by the movement of the conveyor, between said cani-track and cam-rod, said cam-rod being adapted to actuate said mechanism by the aid of said cam-track projections.

51. The invention as in claim 49, further characterized by controlling said admission and discharge of the power medium in proper synchronism with the various operations of the pressing units.

In testimony whereof, I affix my signature.

THEODORE C. ROBERTS.

Certicate of Correction.

It is hereby certified that in Letters Patent No.

1,537,697, granted May 12, 1925,

upon the application of Theodore C, Roberts, of Bridgeport, Connecticut, for an improvement in Apparatus for Molding Articles,

correction as follows: Page 5, line 72, strike out thejword traveling page 8,' ine 101, claim 27, for the word specification requ'irm errors appear in the printed heating read cooling; and

that the said Letters Patent should be read with these corrections therein that the` same ma conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Sign

[sun] and sealed this 16th day of June, A. D. 1925.

KARL FENNING, Acting Oommaemr of Patents.

,Certificate of Correctio. p It ils-hereby certified that in Letters Patent No. 1,537,697, granted May 12, 1925,

upon the4 application of Theodore C. Roberts, of Bridgeport, Connecticut, for an improement in Apparatus for Molding Articles, errors appear in the printed specification requirin correction as follows: Page 5, line 72, strike out th'e`word traveling pige 8, ine 101, claim 27, for the word heat-ing read cooling; and that the said tters Patent should be read with these correctlons therein that the same ma. conform to the reeord of the case in the Patent Oce.

Sign and sealed this 16th day of June, A. D. 1925.

[am] KARL FENNING,

Acting Ummnsaovwr of Patents. 

